Archives

I recently did a story with a local Houston station. The interview went like most generally do, and eventually the topic of speed came up. The question was pretty open ended so I couldn't really tell if they were baiting or honestly curious, but they seemed nice enough, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt.

Went something like this:

I've heard hypermilers drive really slow. Isn't that dangerous.
Well in mixed traffic I always try to drive between the posted Minimum Speed Limit and the posted Maximum Speed Limit.
Isn't that dangerous? Nobody drives the speed limit in Houston
Actually every school bus I've seen in Houston drives below the speed limit. They are always between the posted minimum and posted maximum speeds. I put my kids on those school buses, as do my neighbor. If it was that dangerous, I think we would have heard something by now.

Through the course of the interview the same question came up about 3 times more. Each time I mentioned the school bus. Kind of corny analogy, but it certainly put the question to bed. When it finally got edited all the questions of speed got taken out and the piece was fairly positive. I wish they would have left the speeding questions in there, but better to have a neutral piece than negative one I suppose. I'm keeping the school bus answer in my back pocket from now on.

11011011

Hi Dan:

___Absolutely brilliant! I will have to use that one in my own repertoire if you do not mind.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

___Absolutely brilliant! I will have to use that one in my own repertoire if you do not mind.Thanks, and consider it "Public Domain"... use at will.

11011011

When will this piece be available for reading? I almost feel like when media wants to attract attention they figure "Let's get something controversial" and hypermiling comes to the top of the plate :rolleyes:.

I don't think they really care about the fuel savings offered, so when they're disappointed they put out garbage...as long as it's not positive. They had nothing negative to say however, which was good, but they probably figured it was a waste of time.

When will this piece be available for reading?As much as I hate the verb... I blogged it Friday... Here's the blog:

http://houstonhybrid.blogspot.com/2009/08/hypermiling-on-wb-39.html

There is no "print" story, just the video.

11011011

I often use the "what if I was a loaded semi" thought-provoker,
where power-to-weight ratio or one's desire for neck-snapping
acceleration is concerned.
.
_H*

I just find it incredible that it's considered normal to break the speed limit! Do the police condone this? It's a speed limit right???

ollie